Arsenal Transfer Latest: Gunners Favorites To Land Draxler In The Summer

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Arsenal FC transfer target Julian Draxler has been ruled out of action till March with a ruptured tendon, which will also delay Gunners’ move for him till summer.

Julian Draxler has grabbed the headlines in recent times as he has been linked with a move to Arsenal in January. Arsene Wenger, who is a big fan of the German international, was interested in signing him at the start of the season before the London club eventually landed Mesut Ozil, but the Frenchman hasn’t given up on his desire to sign the Schalke wonder-kid and was linked with a move for him in January.

The 20-year-old has expressed his desire to move abroad in the past and Schalke have nearly given up hope of retaining him beyond this season. Draxler’s current contract with the club runs till 2018, but the attacking midfielder does have a release clause in his contract. Arsenal were expected to pay around £37 million for his signature as they looked to strengthen their title challenge this season. The Gunners currently lack depth in the striker’s department with Olivier Giroud having to shoulder all the responsibility in that role, this combined with fitness concerns of Bendtner, Sanogo and Walcott, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season, is expected to force Arsene Wenger to add a quality option upfront in this window.

Earlier reports suggested that Wenger sees Draxler, who has mostly played as a left winger for Schalke, as someone who can be converted into a center forward – like he has done in the past with Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie. But the big price tag was the only concern in this deal. The release clause in Draxler’s contract is active only in the summer and Schalke are unlikely to sell him at this point of the season with the team struggling to get in the Champions League qualification spot. Arsenal are considered as the favorites in the race for Draxler, with Bayern lurking behind them.

But Arsenal will have to wait till summer to make a move for him now as Draxler has been ruled out till March with a ruptured tendon and he is set to undergo treatment in Munich. Meanwhile the Gunners have been encouraged by Schalke’s recent comments where general manager Horst Heldt has expressed the club’s helplessness at being unable to influence certain “factors” which will decide his future at the club.

“We continue to hope that Julian remains. But there are factors that we cannot influence.” – Heldt told the press.

Schalke is already preparing for his departure this summer and have already signed Sidney Sam from Bayer Leverkusen, who will join the squad at the end of this season. Moreover, reports also suggest that Schalke are preparing a move for their former player Lewis Holtby, who signed for Tottenham Hotspur last year, but has failed to grab a regular place in their line-up.

Draxler is among the most exciting young prospect in Europe currently, but the Arsenal fans might have to wait a bit longer to see him at the Emirates as his injury as delayed the move. But the Gunners do remain the favourites to sign him.